Definition
#Measures how much the current 5-minute activity level diverges from the broader 60-minute regime.
Formula & calculation
#First compute rolling intensity ratios:
Then compute acceleration:
Rolling Intensity Ratio(w) = ((Current Window Volume + Live Volume) / (Historical Mean Volume per Minute × Window Minutes)) × 100Then compute acceleration:
(5m Rolling Intensity Ratio / 60m Rolling Intensity Ratio) × 100Units & range
%. 100% means 5m intensity matches the 60m regime. Values above 150% indicate the last 5 minutes are running at well above the hourly average pace.
Interpretation
#When this spikes against a quiet 60m baseline, you're seeing a genuine short-term outlier. The hourly regime is calm and something just happened. When both the 5m and 60m are elevated, this number compresses toward 100%: not a burst, just a hot session. The reading is most meaningful when the denominator (60m) is near its historical baseline.
Practical usage
#Macro-acceleration against a quiet hourly baseline is a genuine early entry signal: the current 5 minutes are exceptional relative to what the past hour suggested was normal. Add volume z-score and a directional filter before triggering an alert. Without those, you're reacting to speed, not conviction.
Common mistakes
#Frequent interpretation traps and misuse patterns to avoid when applying this metric.
- Assuming high values guarantee continuation. It measures the current divergence, not what happens next.
- Ignoring whether the hourly baseline is itself distorted by an earlier event: if the 60m is already elevated, the denominator is inflated and this ratio compresses artificially.